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worn for many years； smelt of poverty。 And yet the lofty air of this
mysterious old man； his gait； the thought that dwelt on his brow and
was manifest in his eyes； excluded the idea of pauperism。 An observer
would have hesitated how to class him。
Monsieur Bernard seemed so absorbed that he might have been taken for
a teacher employed in that quarter of the city； or for some learned
man plunged in exacting and tyrannical meditation。 Godefroid； in any
case； would have felt a curiosity which his present mission of
benevolence sharpened into powerful interest。
〃Monsieur；〃 continued the old man； 〃if I were sure that you are really
seeking silence and seclusion； I should say take those rooms near
mine。〃 He raised his voice so that Madame Vauthier； who was now
passing them； could hear him。 〃Take those rooms。 I am a father；
monsieur。 I have only a daughter and a grandson to enable me to bear
the miseries of life。 Now； my daughter needs silence and absolute
tranquillity。 All those persons who； so far； have looked at the rooms
you are now considering； have listened to the reasons and the
entreaties of a despairing father。 It was indifferent to them whether
they lived in one house or another of a quarter so deserted that
plenty of lodgings can be had for a low price。 But I see in you a
fixed determination； and I beg you； monsieur； not to deceive me。 Do
you really desire a quiet life？ If not； I shall be forced to move and
go beyond the barrier； and the removal may cost me my daughter's
life。〃
If the man could have wept； the tears would have covered his cheeks
while he spoke； as it was； they were； to use an expression now become
vulgar； 〃in his voice。〃 He covered his forehead with his hand； which
was nothing but bones and muscle。
〃What is your daughter's illness？〃 asked Godefroid； in a persuasive
and sympathetic voice。
〃A terrible disease to which physicians give various names； but it
has； in truth； no name。 My fortune is lost；〃 he added； with one of
those despairing gestures made only by the wretched。 〃The little money
that I had；for in 1830 I was cast from a high position；in fact；
all that I possessed； was soon used by on my daughter's illness； her
mother； too； was ruined by it； and finally her husband。 To…day the
pension I receive from the government barely suffices for the actual
necessities of my poor； dear； saintly child。 The faculty of tears has
left me； I have suffered tortures。 Monsieur； I must be granite not to
have died。 But no； God had kept alive the father that the child might
have a nurse； a providence。 Her poor mother died of the strain。 Ah！
you have come； young man； at a moment when the old tree that never yet
has bent feels the axethe axe of poverty； sharpened by sorrowat
his roots。 Yes； here am I； who never complain； talking to you of this
illness so as to prevent you from coming to the house； or； if you
still persist； to implore you not to trouble our peace。 Monsieur； at
this moment my daughter barks like a dog； day and night。〃
〃Is she insane？〃 asked Godefroid。
〃Her mind is sound； she is a saint；〃 replied the old man。 〃You will
presently think I am mad when I tell you all。 Monsieur； my only child；
my daughter was born of a mother in excellent health。 I never in my
life loved but one woman； the one I married。 I married the daughter of
one of the bravest colonels of the Imperial guard； Tarlowski； a Pole；
formerly on the staff of the Emperor。 The functions that I exercised
in my high position demanded the utmost purity of life and morals； but
I have never had room in my heart for many feelings； and I faithfully
loved my wife； who deserved such love。 I am a father in like manner as
I was a husband； and that is telling you all in one word。 My daughter
never left her mother； no child has ever lived more chastely； more
truly a Christian life than my dear daughter。 She was born more than
pretty； she was born most beautiful； and her husband； a young man of
whose morals I was absolutely sure；he was the son of a friend of
mine； the judge of one of the Royal courts；did not in any way
contribute to my daughter's illness。〃
Godefroid and Monsieur Bernard made an involuntary pause； and looked
at each other。
〃Marriage； as you know； sometimes changes a young woman greatly；〃
resumed the old man。 〃The first pregnancy passed well and produced a
son； my grandson； who now lives with us； the last scion of two
families。 The second pregnancy was accompanied by such extraordinary
symptoms that the physicians； much astonished； attributed them to the
caprice of phenomena which sometimes manifest themselves in this
state； and are recorded by physicians in the annals of science。 My
daughter gave birth to a dead child； in fact； it was twisted and
smothered by internal movements。 The disease had begun； the pregnancy
counted for nothing。 Perhaps you are a student of medicine？〃
Godefroid made a sign which answered as well for affirmation as for
negation。
〃After this terrible confinement；〃 resumed Monsieur Bernard；〃so
terrible and laborious that it made a violent impression on my son…in…
law and began the mortal melancholy of which he died；my daughter；
two or three months later； complained of a general weakness affecting；
particularly； her feet； which she declared felt like cottonwood。 This
debility changed to paralysis；and what a paralysis！ My daughter's
feet and legs can be bent or twisted in any way and she does not feel
it。 The limbs are there； apparently without blood or muscles or bones。
This affection； which is not connected with anything known to science；
spread to the arms and hands； and we then supposed it to be a disease
of the spinal cord。 Doctors and remedies only made matters worse until
at last my poor daughter could not be moved without dislocating either
the shoulders； the arms； or the knees。 I kept an admirable surgeon
almost constantly in the house； who； with the doctor； or doctors （for
many came out of interest in the case）； replaced the dislocated limbs；
sometimes； would you believe it monsieur？ three and four times a
day！ Ah！This disease has so many forms that I forgot to tell you
that during the first period of weakness； before the paralysis began；
the strangest signs of catalepsy appearedyou know what catalepsy is。
She remained for days with her eyes wide open； motionless； in whatever
position she was when the attack seized her。 The worst symptoms of
that strange affection were shown； even those of lockjaw。 This phase
of her illness suggested to me the idea of employing magnetism； and I
was about to do so when the paralysis began。 My daughter； monsieur；
has a miraculous clear…sightedness； her soul has been the theatre of
all the wonders of somnambulism； just as her body has been that of all
diseases。〃
Godefroid began to ask himself if the old man were really sane。
〃So that I；〃 continued Monsieur Bernard paying no attention to the
expression in Godefroid's eyes； 〃even I； a child of the eighteenth
century； fed on Voltaire； Diderot； Helvetius；I； a son of the
Revolution； who scoff at all that antiquity and the middle…ages tell
us of demoniacal possession；well； monsieur； I affirm that nothing
but such posse